WRGB

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

WRGB-TV
Schenectady / Albany / Troy, New York
Branding	CBS6
Slogan	Breaking News. First Weather.
Channels	6 (VHF) analog, 39 (UHF) digital
Affiliations	CBS (1981-present, also secondary 1948-54)
Owner	Freedom Communications
Founded	February 26, 1942 (originally experimental W2XB 1928-42, moved from ch. 4 to ch.6 in 1954)
Call letters meaning	Walter R. G. Baker (GE engineer, head of the NTSC)
Former callsigns	none
Former affiliations	NBC (1939/42-81) ABC (1949-54, secondary), DuMont (1949-54, secondary)
Transmitter Power	93.3 kW (analog) 600 kW (digital)
Website	www.cbs6albany.com

WRGB, channel six, is the CBS affiliate television station for the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, New York market, owned and operated by Freedom Communications. It is licensed to Schenectady with studios in the nearby town of Niskayuna with its transmitter located in the Helderberg Mountains in New Scotland, New York. Its digital signal, WRGB-DT, broadcasts on channel 39.

WRGB's audio signal can also be heard on 87.7 FM in most areas the video signal can be received (and some that it cannot); this is because of the electromagnetic field effect which puts the audio signal of channel 6 at the location of 87.75 MHz with tuners getting the signal at 87.7.

Contents 1 History 1.1 1928-1942 1.2 1942-Present 1.3 WRGB-DT 1.4 WNYA and WCWN involvement 1.5 Logos 2 Notable personalities 3 Newscasts 3.1 Weekdays 3.2 Weekends 4 Newscast titles 5 Weather Coverage 6 Trivia 7 References 8 See also 9 External links

[edit] History

[edit] 1928-1942

WRGB claims to be the world's first television station. It traces its roots to an experimental station founded on January 13, 1928 from the General Electric facility under the call letters W2XB on channel 4. It was popularly known as "WGY Television" after its radio sister. In 1939, it began sharing programs with W2XBS (forerunner of WNBC-TV) in New York City, becoming NBC's first television affiliate—a link that would last for 42 years.

The station's original branding was "WGY", after its sister radio station, broadcasting on 790 kHz from a 380-meter antenna. The station also broadcast on the frequency of 379.5 mHz, with 24 vertical lines of resolution and 21 frames per second. Its call-sign was changed to W2XAD rather quickly in 1928, and moved to 31.4 mHz. Towards December of 1928, the station would receive yet another change/upgrade, to W2XAF, keeping its frequency, frame rate, and vertical lines.

Later on, the station received a further upgrade to broadcast 48 lines at 20 frames per second, with the call sign of W2XB on 2.1-2.2 mHz.

On February 26, 1942, W2XB received a commercial license as WRGB—the fourth in the nation and only the second one outside of New York City.

[edit] 1942-Present

Several years later, WRGB took on secondary affiliations with the three other networks in operation (CBS, ABC, and DuMont). In 1954, it moved to its current position on channel 6 to alleviate interference from WNBC (then known as WRCA-TV) and WBZ-TV and the station dropped its secondary affiliations when the signons of WCDA (today's WTEN) and WTRI (today's WNYT) took the CBS and ABC affiliations respectively.

WRGB produced two of the longest-running locally-produced programs in television history: a quiz show called Answers Please and a bowling program entitled TV Tournament Time. After the cancellation of both by the late 1980s, WRGB's local programming has been variable and erratic ranging from a local home shopping show to a weekly video countdown done with Top 40 stations WFLY and (later) WKKF.

On September 28, 1981, WRGB swapped affiliations with WAST (now WNYT) and became a CBS affiliate. Two years later, fifty-five years of General Electric ownership ended when they sold WRGB to Unicom Inc., a unit of Forstmann Little. Unicom's ownership of the station was short-lived as in 1986 they sold WRGB to its current owner, Freedom Communications. The next year, WRGB was awarded the Broadcast Pioneers Golden Mike Award and shortly thereafter was awarded a Presidential citation by Ronald Reagan.

For many years, WRGB had the leading newscast in the Capital District, anchored for many years by the venerable Ernie Tetrault (who was immortalized in the 1992 film Sneakers, directed by one-time WRGB intern Phil Alden Robinson). After Tetrault's retirement in 1993, the station was quickly eclipsed by WNYT and for several years in the mid-1990s fell to third place. For the most part, the station has stabilized to a steady #2 though for a period in the early 2000s it fell back to #3. This relative instablity led WRGB to shed its heritage "NewsCenter 6" brand in early 1998. It changed its on-air name to "CBS6" in October 2004 after decades of being known as either "TV6" or "Channel 6".

[edit] WRGB-DT

In September 2003, WRGB signed on its digital signal, WRGB-DT, located on channel 39. Like its analog counterpart, WRGB-DT was the first full-market digital signal to sign on in the market. The signal consists of the following:

• 6.1: WRGB's digital signal
• 6.2: A simulcast of MyNetworkTV affiliate WNYA, for which WRGB handles commercial sales via a joint services agreement.
• 6.3: A live feed of the station's live "Instant Doppler" radar. This feed is preempted in cases when both WRGB and WNYA have had simultaneous high definition programming and to air additional games of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship.

[edit] WNYA and WCWN involvement

In April 2003, WRGB signed a joint services agreement with the fledgling UPN affiliate WNYA several months prior to that station's sign-on that Septmeber. Under the agreement, WRGB handles ad sales for WNYA as well as shares programming with the station which has included two forays of WRGB newscasts airing on WNYA (early on repeats and currently an extention to their morning newscast). The agreement, originally set to expire at the end of August 2006, is now set to expire at the end of 2008. WNYA is now a MyNetworkTV affiliate.

On June 19, 2006, WRGB parent Freedom Communications announced the purchase of current CW affiliate WCWN from Tribune Broadcasting for $17 million. This purchase was finalized on December 6, 2006, giving the Albany/Schenectady/Troy market its first duopoly and also giving WRGB control of three stations in the market. This also brings up the possibility of WRGB producing a 10 PM newscast for WCWN (which will become a reality beginning sometime in 2007); WRGB will also produce a morning newscast for WCWN (currently on WNYA).

[edit] Logos

WRGB's old circle 6 logo, used 1981-98. The logo is essentially an upside-down version of the stylized "9" used by KMBC and WTVC.

WRGB's previous logo, used 1998-2004.

CBS 6 logo, used on the station's website.

Current CBS 6 logo, used since October 2004.

[edit] Notable personalities

Current

• Jack Aernecke (5:00/5:30 p.m. anchor and money editor; longest tenured air talent dating back to 1970)
• Mike Augustyniak (Weekend evening and alternating noon meteorologist)
• Liz Bishop (5:30/6:00/11:00 anchor and arguably the face of the station)
• Fred Dicker (Political analyst, better known as the Albany based state editor of the New York Post. Also hosts a daily radio program on WROW)
• Dan DiNicola (Feature/Entertainment Reporter, also known as the co-author of Rachael Ray's original "30-Minute Meals" book; will retire at the end of 2006 to continue his writing career at the Schenectady Gazette^[1])
• Greg Floyd (6:00/11:00 anchor, came in late of 2005 from WXXA)
• Nicole Forige (Saturday morning anchor)
• Jerry Gretzinger (Weekend evening anchor and a key nightside reporter)
• Steve LaPointe (Chief Meteorolgist, in some form, since 1995. Originally joined station in 1991 as Morning and Noon Meteorologist.)
• Rene Marsh (Investigative reporter)
• Tom Mailey (Weekday morning and alternating noon "weathercaster", prior to that a feature reporter and originally afternoon movie host in the late 1980s)
• Tim Mack (Weekend sports)
• Marci Natale (Key reporter, late of WXXA)
• Ed O'Brien (Weekday morning anchor, previously did sports in the early 1990s)
• Ken Screven (Longtime reporter and head of the station's downtown Albany bureau; also holds the distinction of being the first African-American air talent in the Albany market)
• Doug Sherman (Sports Director)
• Craig Smith (Nightside reporter and Sunday morning anchor, late of WNYT)
• Mike Tamas (Weeekend morning/fill-in meteorologist)
• Mary Beth Wenger (Berkshire County correspondent and former longtime (1987-2004) weekend anchor)

Past

• Marty Aarons (Replacement for Ernie Tetrault, lasted less than a year before being fired in 1994. Later held anchor positions at WGRZ in Buffalo and WROC in Rochester)
• Garrett Argianas (Weekend meteorologist during early 2000s, now with WVIT in New Britain/Hartford, Connecticut)
• Dick Beach (1931-1997, longtime reporter for WRGB TV and WGY radio)
• Kelly (Cass) Boland, (Weekend meteorologist from 1993-2000, now a key weekend meteorologist at The Weather Channel)
• Jim Brennan (Sports anchor for most of the 1980s, left to anchor at WTEN, now host of the regional PBS program "New York Week in Review")
• John Cessarich (Chief meteorologist from 1987 to 1991, now chief meteorologist at WYFF in Greenville, South Carolina)
• Dr. Alan Chartock (Controversial director of WAMC, was a political analyst until dropped in 1994 at which point he went to WNYT)
• Ed Dague (Reporter and later co-anchor from 1969-83, left for WNYT and was the catalyst for that station's current dominance)
• John Discepolo (Weekend sports anchor from 1996-99, now main sports anchor at WNYW in New York City)
• Bill Duffy (Political analyst from 1969 to his sudden death in 1987; father of current News Director Beau Duffy (and, in turn, father-in-law of 5:00 producer Michelle Nicoll-Duffy))
• Tracy Egan (Now at WTEN, served two separate stints at WRGB, first as a reporter in the mid 1970s then as lead co-anchor from 1986-91)
• Neal Estano (Chief meteorologist in two separate stints in the 1990s, now at WBAL-TV in Baltimore)
• John Graney (Long time Capital District sports talk radio host, was the main sports anchor for a time during the 1990's. Now at WROW radio in Albany)
• Steve Hammes (Weekend weathercaster and automotive editor from 1994 to 1999, continues to host and produce his auto-review franchise "Drive Time" for Yahoo! Autos and Autobytel, Inc. as well as hosting TWTV's "Car Show."
• Brad Holbrook (Evening co-anchor from 1998 to 2001, now host of BusinessWeek TV)
• Shawn Killenger(Morning feature reporter from 2000-2001, later was a contestant on The Apprentice: Martha Stewart)
• Kyle Kraska (Now main sports reporter at KFMB-TV in San Diego, got his start at WRGB in the early 1990s)
• Doug Lezette (Original weekend morning anchor, reporter, and later assisstant News Director, now head anchor and news director at WSHM in Springfield, Massachusetts)
• Al Lombardo (Sports anchor during the 1980's, also hosted a sports talk radio show)
• Bob McNamara (Sports reporter from 1966-81, known as the one-time "Dean" of Capital District sports, and the only person to hold on-air position at all three of Albany's VHF stations)
• Joe Pagliarulo (Evening co-anchor from 2002 to 2005, now morning host at WOAI radio in San Antonio)
• Sue Nigra 1998-2006 (Most recently Noon/5:00 p.m. anchor and health reporter; her arrival to the station from WTEN was the focus of a key lawsuit on noncompete clauses)
• Mary Caroline Powers (Reporter during the 1970's, then co-anchored the Noon news on WTEN. Later worked in public television and as an editor at the Saratogian newspaper)
• Earle Pudney (1911-1998, pioneer in Albany area broadcasting, hosted variety programs on WRGB TV and WGY radio from the 1940's to the 1960's)
• Ric Renner (Sports director from 1994-96, now host of "Southwest Sports Report" on Fox Sports Net Southwest)
• Judy Sanders (Feature and political reporter from 1979 to 2006)
• Scott Stevens (Webmaster of the conspiracy website WeatherWars, was fired by WRGB in 1995 after having fabricated his credentials)
• Ernie Tetrault (Main anchor for 42 years, 1951-93, a mark which will probably never be matched; now known as a commercial pitchman for many businesses in the Albany area)
• Howard Tupper (1913-1986, longtime weatherman and host of the long running Sunday morning bowling show TV Tournament Time, known for his catch phrase "Hi, small fry")
• Tim Welch (Weatherman during the 1980s, followed Howard Tupper and preceded John Cessarich)

Outside of news, WRGB is the home base for Art "Mr. Food" Ginsburg whose syndicated cooking segment airs across the US usually during midday newscasts. In the mid-1990s, WRGB was the springboard for Glens Falls native Rachael Ray who debuted her "30-Minute Meals" segments on the station.

[edit] Newscasts

Note: The time names listed here are not used on-air; the identification of all newscasts is merely "CBS6 News" regardless of time of day.

[edit] Weekdays

• CBS 6 First News (5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.)
• CBS 6 First News on My TV 4 Albany (7:00 a.m. to 8:00 am on sister station WNYA)
  • Anchored by Ed O'Brien... and Weather with Tom Mailey
• CBS 6 News at Noon
  • Anchored by ?... and Weather with Mike Augustyniak
• CBS 6 News at 5
  • Anchored by Liz Bishop and Jack Aernecke... and Weather with Steve Lapointe
• CBS 6 News at 5:30
  • Same as CBS6 News at 5
• CBS 6 News at 6
  • Anchored by Liz Bishop and Greg Floyd... Weather with Steve Lapointe... and Sports with Doug Sherman
• CBS 6 News at 6:30
  • Same as CBS6 News at 6
• CBS 6 News at 11
  • Same as CBS6 News at 6

[edit] Weekends

• CBS6 First News (Saturday 6:00 to 8:00 a.m., Sunday 7:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m.)
  • Anchored by Craig Smith... and Weather with Mike Tamas
• CBS6 News at 6 (Saturday only)
• CBS6 News at 6:30 (Sunday only)
  • Anchored by Jerry Gretzinger... Weather with Mike Augustyniak... and Sports with Tim Mack
• CBS6 News at 11
  • Same as CBS6 News at 6/CBS6 News at 6:30

[edit] Newscast titles

• The Esso News Report (1940 - 1954)
• Television 6 Reports (1954 - 1960)
• TV-6 News (1960 - 1974)
• NewsCenter 6 (1974 - January 25, 1998)
• Channel 6 News (January 26, 1998 - September 30, 2004)
• CBS6 News (October 1, 2004 - present)

[edit] Weather Coverage

As with its heritage of being the first station in the Capital Region, WRGB has had several firsts in the weather field as well given the unpredictable weather of the northeast. In February 1996, WRGB became the first Capital Region station to put forecasts on the world wide web with the launch of their website.

The Mechanicville Tornado Outbreak of 1998 led to further developments in the station's weather coverage. WRGB won an Emmy award for chief meteorologist Steve Lapointe's near-nonstop work over two days which made sure there were no fatalities in the otherwise devastating tornadoes.

In May 1999, the station (at the behest of LaPointe) started WeatherNet6 which allowed viewers of the station to join the station in reporting weather around the area; they were allowed to report anything from current conditions to snowfall totals.

In 2000, the station became the first station in the market to offer Live Doppler Radar as they installed Instant Doppler 6 to the station. For more information check out the Instant Doppler 6 website. WRGB held this exclusive distinction until 2004 when WNYT set up their own live radar, a second-hand 1970s-era radar from their sister station (KSTP) in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN. WTEN and WXXA also updated their radar outputs to so-called "live" capabilities but do not, in fact, operate their own radars. Instead, each of these stations chose to re-brand as their own NEXRAD Level II radar data [1] from the 4 regional National Weather Service Doppler Radar sites (in Albany, Binghamton, Montague and Upton). This government data is also used at WRGB (on air as WeatherScan Radar), and is not proprietary to any one station.

Ironically, WRGB was the last station in the Albany market to have a degree-holding meteorologist on their staff, not doing so until Freedom's purchase of the station several years after WTEN and WNYT did the same.

[edit] Trivia

• Ernie Tetrault, WRGB's long-time anchor, can be seen anchoring a newscast in the 1992 film Sneakers. Phil Alden Robinson, the film's director, once worked at the station as an intern.^[2]

[edit] References

1. ^ "DiNicola to continue writing for Gazette after leaving WRGB" (HTML), The Business Reivew, 2006-11-02. Retrieved on 2006-11-19.
2. ^ Trivia for Sneakers (1992) (HTML). Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 2006-10-22. “Director Phil Alden Robinson once did an internship at WRGB-TV in Niskayuna, New York. As a favor, he has former WRGB news anchor Ernie Tetrault cast as the news anchor in this film.”

[edit] See also

• Oldest television station
• list of experimental television stations

[edit] External links

• WRGB website
• WRGB Wireless
• WNYA Website

• Query the FCC's TV station database for WRGB

CBS Network Affiliates in the state of New York
WCBS 2 (New York City) - WIVB 4 (Buffalo) - WTVH 5 (Syracuse) - WRGB 6 (Albany) - WWNY 7 (Watertown) - WROC 8 (Rochester) - WBNG 12 (Binghamton)
See also: ABC, CW, Fox, MyNetworkTV, NBC, PBS and Other stations in New York